Pentagon Faces DACA End

kevin couch

3 months ago

The Defense Department is grappling with uncertainty following President Trump’s Sept. 5 announcement that he would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The change means that young undocumented immigrants could be deported and lose other protections sometime within the next six months. Currently, there are about 900 persons serving in the U.S. armed forces who stand to lose under the DACA revocation.

“The Department of Defense is coordinating with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security regarding any impact a change in policy may have for DACA recipients,” Lt. Col. Paul Haverstick, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a Sept. 6 statement, according to the Huffington Post.
Haverstick also deferred further comment, stating that Homeland Security would be the lead agency regarding any changes in immigration, naturalization or citizenship.

The Huffington Post quoted Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan as saying the agency would work with DoD to determine what would happen to any so-called “Dreamers” who are both in this country under DACA and serving in the military.

Lapan did say that DACA recipients who wish to enlist in the military would not be allowed to do so.